§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the methods used for auditing and monitoring expenditure in opt-out and grant-maintained schools.
§ Mr. EggarMonitoring of grant-maintained schools is carried out continuously by the Department, with emphasis on particular returns each school must submit monthly, quarterly and annually. Schools must appoint external auditors under arrangements laid down by the Department. The auditors, who may be drawn from the district arm of the Audit Commission, or from private sector accountants, are required annually to certify that, inter alia, grants paid to a school have been properly applied for the purposes intended. The National Audit Office also has right of access to grant-maintained schools.